Hair wave processing indicator



' Sept. 2 1957 A. USELIS HAIR WAVE PROCESSING mmcnoa Filed Feb. 1, 1955FIG. 3

FIG.

' INVENTOR 464mm 4W 4 k v m United States Patent 2,807,163 HAIR WAVEPROCESSING INDICATOR Alfonsas Uselis, Brooklyn, N. Y. ApplicationFebruary 1, 1955, Serial No. 485,569 9 Claims. (Cl. 73-160) The purposeof the hair wave processing indicator is to provide an accuratemechanical means for measuring the length of time that, in eachindividual case, is necessary for a hair waving lotion used in permanentwaving of hair to be allowed to remain on the head of hair before theapplication of a neutralizer. By the use of this instrument, it ispossible to determine accurately, prior to the application of the hairwaving lotion to a persons hair, the length of time necessary to obtaina soft, medium or hard wave, as may be desired.

It is known that the characteristics of each persons hair may-differ inregard to the degree it will be affected by the action of the hairwaving lotion. An individual using a hair waving lotion may find thatthe resistance of such individuals hair to the conditioning action ofsaid lotion may be of long duration as compared to that of anotherindividual. By the use of the hair wave processing indicator, it ispossible without the use of test curls, and without guess work that mayarise because of differences in -.the strength of the hair wavinglotions, to obtain results far more precise than otherwise obtainable bymeasuring the degree of resistance of each individuals 'hair to theaction of the particular hair waving lotion being used to condition thehead of hair for a permanent wave.

The application of a hair waving lotion to a head of hair is to reduceit to a desired plastic state, or, in short, to condition or soften thehair for a permanent wave. The duration of the application of a hairwaving lotion to a head of hair is of extreme importance; the durationof the application, which is critical, varies as to each head of hairand as to each hair waving lotion. Time is of the essence. If theapplication of a hair waving lotion to a head of hair is not timedaccurately the permanent wave turns out to be overor under-processed.The object of the hair wave processing indicator is to provide a novelhair testing apparatus for ascertaining the duration of the applicationof a hair waving lotion to a head of hair prior to the treatment of ahead of hair for a permanent wave.

The problem confronting the beauty operator or the individual user of ahair waving lotion is the determination of the length of time of theapplication of the hair waving lotion to a head of hair before theapplication of the neutralizing solution. In the case of the beautyoperator using the same hair waving lotion on the heads of hair of allthe customers the problem of the beauty operator is to note the inherentdiiferences in the structure of each customers hair and to estimatehaphazardly the duration of the'application of the hair waving lotion.In the case of the individual user of a hair waving lotion at home, suchindividual attempts by the hit-and-miss method to discover the correctduration of the application of the hair waving lotion, and eventuallyfinds the correct duration of the application but, in many cases, onlyafter the expense of a number of purchases of the same hair wavinglotion. If the beauty operator or the individual user ice changes thebrand of the hair waving lotion and begins the treatment for permanentwave using another brand of hair waving lotion the problems incident inits use repeat themselves.

By the use of the hair wave processing indicator, the beauty operator orthe individual user of a hair waving lotion can discover the correctduration of the application of a hair waving lotion before the hairwaving lotion is applied to a head of hair. The present invention isused by the beauty operator or an individual user on a strand of hairfrom the head of hair to be given the permanent wave to determine theresistance of the hair to being softened or conditioned for a permanentwave by the action of the hair waving lotion. The clocking of the time,that the action of the hair waving lotion requires to soften or toovercome the resistance of a strand of hair in its normal or naturalcondition and to transform a strand of hair from its normally straightor natural condition to a curled or wavy form, is an important andnecessary step in the use of the present invention.

7 The present invention provides a novel hair testing apparatus whichincludes a two-sectional interlocking and transparent case. The bottomsection of the case for holding the hair waving lotion and the topsection of the case aflixed with the operating elements to hold looselythe strand of hair being tested in position between the stationary comband a rotative comb tensioned to such a degree as to depress the'strandof hair inthe openings of the stationary comb as the softening orconditioning action of the hair waving lotion on the immersed strand ofhair progresses. The time required for the rotative comb to depressfully the immersed strand of hair, or to transform said strand of hairfrom its normal or natural condition to a curled or wavy form determinesthe duration of time of the application of the hair waving lotion on thehead of hair before the application of the neutralizing solution. Thepresent apparatus has an indicator dial to show when the resistance ofthe strand of hair to the softening or conditioning action of the hairwaving lotion has been overcome, or when the strand of hair has beentransformed from its normal or natural state to a curled or wavy form.

The present invention has other and further objects which will beapparent from the following description and claims and are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of theinvention, but other embodiments of the invention embodying the sameprinciple may be used with modifications and changes without departingfrom the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view, Fig. 3 is the otherside view, Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of that portion of theapparatus below line a-a of Fig. 3 showing the shape and form of theteeth of the stationary and rotative combs in operative position, andFig. 2 is the front view with a schematic diagram of the hair waveprocessing indicator showing all of the component parts.

The attached diagram of the hair wave processing indicator shows theconstituent numbered parts as follows:

The dial 1 is calibrated in degrees of resistance of a strand of hair 16to the softening or conditioning action of the hair waving lotion,showing at the extreme left side an R to designatefull resistance, and Oat the extreme right to indicate the point at which resistance has beencompletely removed by the hair waving lotion action. Intervening dialmarkings within this range show progressively the degree of hairsoftening or conditioning starting from the R (resistance) side.

The apparatus is encased in a two-section, transparent case having a topsection 12 and a bottom section 17. The bottom section 17 of the case,wherein the strand of hair 16 being tested is immersed, is the containerof the hair waving lotion.

The frame 3 with bottom, top and sides is set permanently on one side ofthe top section of the case 12 by means. of two machine screws 8 andmachine screw nuts 10. The frame 3 (with bottom, top and sides) has arevolving flat bar or shaft 18 extending from one side to the other sideof the frame 3. 'On one 'end' of the revolving bar or shaft 18 is a handoperable wheel or knob 11 and on the other end of the revolving bar orshaft 18 is an indicating arm 2 whose top end acts as pointer needle onthe dial 1 located near the top of one side of the frame 3. A rotativecomb 4 with depending teeth is afiixed to the revolving bar or shaft 18,which is connected to a main spring 9 which at its correct tensionrepresents the balancing measure of the degree of resistance exerted bythe strand of hair. The main spring 9 is regulated and adjusted by atension spring 7 which is attached to the top of the frame 3 and whichis locked into correct position by means of an adjusting screw 14 andlocking nut 13.

Near the bottom of the frame 3 and on each side thereof are grooves 15and adjacent thereto are the hair holders 5 affixed to the innersurfaces of the sides of the frame 3. A stationary comb 6 withupstanding teeth is afiixed to the bottom of the frame 3. The strand ofhair 16 to be tested is placed between the teeth of the stationary comb6 and the teeth of the rotative comb 4, into the hair holders 5 andgrooves 15 so that the end portions of the strand of hair 16 extend ahalf-inch or so beyond the sides of the frame 3.

To use the apparatus, the bottom section of the case 17 is removed fromthe top section of the case 12 and is then filled with the hair wavinglotion to such levelthat will cover the bottom portion of the frame 3wherein the strand of hair 16 is positioned.

By the use of the hand operable wheel or knob 11, the teeth of therotative comb 4 is drawn away from the teeth of the stationary comb 6,and the strand of hair 16, removed from the head of hair to bepermanently waved, is inserted between and horizontally across the innersurfaces of the teeth of the stationary comb 6 and the rotative comb 4.The end portions of the strand of hair 16 are then fitted into the hairholders 5 and the grooves 15 on each side of the frame 3. The hairholders 5 and the grooves 15 are provided merely for holding loosely andin a horizontal position the strand of hair 16 which end portions areallowed to extend beyond the sides of the frame 3 a half-inch or so. Therotative comb 4 is then allowed to descend and rest upon the strand ofhair 16 being tested for waveability.

The dial 1 at this point registers R or some point toward the center ofthe dial 1 dependent on the thickness of the hair being tested. With theapparatus in this readiness, the bottom side of the frame 3 strand ofhair is inserted, is immersed into the hair waving lotion contained inthe bottom section of the case 17 which should have enough hair wavinglotion to cover the strand of hair 16. As the hair Waving lotion beginsits softening effect upon the strand of hair 16, the pressure of therotative comb 4 upon the hair 16 begins to depress the hair 16 into theopenings of the stationary comb 6, with such progressive softening beingshown on the calibrations of the dial 1 by the indicating arm 2.

The length of time taken to reach an intermediate point of softening orcomplete softening is the determinant by which the desired result as toa soft wave, medium Wave or hard wave is achieved when the hair wavingtion is subsequently applied to the hair of the person receiving apermanent wave. The length of hair provided for in the operation of theapparatus as above takes into account without distortion of resultsvariations in thickness of hair growth over a span of many months.

The method based on the use of the hair wave processing indicatorconsists of the placing of one strand of hair wherein the being testedin the apparatus and subjecting said hair to the softening orconditioning action of the hair waving lotion as described in theforegoing, with the design that the pressure of the rotative comb on thestrand of hair as the strand of hair is being depressed into theopenings of the stationary comb shall measure the degree of softness orplasticity attained in the said strand of hair or the degree ofreadiness of the strand of hair to waveability by the action of the hairwaving lotion in which said strand of hair is immersed. By the uniformpressure ap plied on the length of hair in the hair wave processingindicator, no variations ofresults can occur due to the irregularitiesof thickness of the hair in normal growth from month to month.Specifically, this instrument provides the means for measuring, throughreadings obtained on the dial, the initial resistance of the hair beingtested without the action of the hair waving lotion, and the progressivesoftening or conditioning of the hair resulting from the action of thehair waving lotion, thus enabling the operator to determine with fullaccuracy, by observing the dial and by clocking, the length of time toallow the particular hair waving lotion used to remain on the head ofhair before the application of the neutralizing solution in order toachieve a hard, medium or soft wave, as may be desired, without theguesswork of test curls or other 'less accurate methods.

While the foregoing specifications set forth the apparatus of theinvention in more or less specific terms, it should be understood thatvarious changes may be made in the size, shape and kind of materialsused in its construction, without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a hair wave processing indicator, useful for ascertaining the timenecessary for the transformation of a strand of hair from. a head ofhair to be permanent waved, from its normal or natural state to a curlyor wavy form or condition as it is immersed in a hair waving lotion tobe applied to said head of hair, comprising, in combination, a case,said case having a top section and bottom section, said bottom sectionadapted to contain some of the hair Waving lotion, a frame element withtop, bottom and side members mounted and enclosed in the top section ofsaid case, a dial means affixed to' the top of the side of said frame,grooves on each side of said frame element adapted to hold opposite endportions of the strand of hair being tested, hair holders adjacent tosaid grooves and affixed to the inner surfaces of the side members ofsaid frame, a revolving member extending between the sides of saidframe, means for providing a predetermined and adjustable force to saidrevolving member, a rotative comb with depending teeth affixed to saidrevolving member, a stationary member with upstanding teeth afiixed tothe bottom of said frame, said upstanding and depending teeth beingadapted to interleave with the test strand of hair therebetween wherebythe strand of hair is depressed into the interstices of the teeth ofsaid stationary member by the said means of force applied to the teethof the said rotative comb as the chemical action of the hair wavinglotion takes effect on the said strand of hair..

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in wihch the teeth of the saidstationary comb and rotative comb are semi-circular cross-sectionallywith the flat surfaces of the teeth of said stationary comb and rotativecomb facing outwardly and the curved or round surfaces facing inwardly.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the said stationary comband rotative comb are adapted to interleave with the said test strand ofhair.

4. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said main spring predeterminedand adjusted by said tension spring is adapted to exert such force tosaid rotative comb as is necessary to depress the strand of'hair throughthe interstices of the teeth of said stationary comb as the said strandof hair is acted upon chemically by thehair waving lotion.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the said revolving memberis adapted to transmit the said means of force to the rotative comb.

6. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said revolving member is adaptedto indicate the rotation of said revolving member.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said dial means aredesigned to register the effect of the said means of force together withthe chemical action on said strand of hair.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hair holders andgrooves position the strand of hair as it is inserted horizontallyacross the inner surfaces of the teeth of said stationary comb androtative comb, and said hand operable wheel or knob designed tofacilitate the insertion of the said strand of hair.

9. In a hair wave processing indicator, useful for ascertaining the timenecessary for the transformation of a strand of hair, from a head ofhair to be permanent waved, from its normal or natural state to a curlyor wavy form or condition as it is immersed in a hair waving tion to beapplied to said head of hair, comprising, in combination, a case, saidcase having a top section'and bottom section, said bottom sectionadapted to contain some of the hair waving lotion, a frame element withtop, bottom and side members mounted and enclosed in the top section ofsaid case, a dial means affixed to the upper portion of the side of thesaid frame element,

grooves on each side of said frame element adapted to hold opposite endportions of the strand of hair being tested, hair holders adjacent tosaid grooves and aflixed to the inner surfaces of the side members ofsaid frame element, a revolving bar or shaft extending between the sidesof said frame element, a main spring affixed to said revolving bar orshaft, a tension spring connected to said main spring and affixed to thetop of the frame element, said main spring and tension spring to providea predetermined and adjustable force to the said revolving bar or shaft,a pointer or indicating arm connected to the said revolving bar or shaftand movable therewith across said dial, a rotative comb with dependingteeth affixed .to said revolving bar or shaft, a stationary comb withupstanding teeth and depending teeth being adapted to interleave withthe test strand of hair th'erebetween whereby the strand of hair removedfrom a head of. hair to be permanent waved is depressed into theinterstices of the teeth of the said stationary comb by the means offorce of said main spring and tension spring applied to the teeth ofsaid rotative comb as the chemical action of the hair waving lotiontakes effect on the said strand of hair.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,496,206 Grigsby Ian. 31, 1950 2,627,179 Grant Feb. 3, 1953 2,670,624Faris et a1 Mar. 2, 1954

